Dart board assembly

ABSTRACT

A dart board assembly includes a frame having a plurality of block bodies which are movably engaged with spaces defined by ribs extending from the frame. The frame is fixed to a backing and an electronic sensing member is connected between the backing and the frame. A plurality of conducting switches extend from the electronic sensing member. A first surface of a thin and elastic contact pad is connected to the electronic sensing member and a plurality of protrusions protrude from a second surface of the contact pad and a recess is defined in a second surface of the electronic sensing member corresponding to each of the protrusions. A gap is defined between an inside of each recess and the switches. The inside of the recess contacts the conducting switch corresponding thereto when the block body is stricken by a dart and moves the contact pads toward the electronic sensing member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part application for the applicant's former patent application U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/596,615 with the title of “SENSING DEVICE FOR ELECTRONIC DARTBOARD”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,250 discloses a dart board assembly which includes a plurality of contact pins extending from the insulative plate and the contact pins are fitted in corresponding pin holes in the cushions 8. It is to be noted that the depth of the pin hole is longer than the length of the contact pin so that when the dart strikes the target plate, the contact pins is pushed and extend out from the pin holes and activate the circuit board. The cushion plate is alternatively replaced by plurality of rubber cones as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9.

[0003] It is to be noted that the contact pins extend through the rubber cones and are moved to contact the conductive membrane circuit and then the circuit board. Noise is generated when the contact pins strike the conductive membrane and the circuit board. This noise reduces the feeling of entertainment of the game and the tip portion of each of the contact pins is limited to be a small range of areas so that the impact and wear are hue for the conductive membrane and the circuit board.

[0004] The present invention intends to provide a dartboard that includes an elastic contact pad which includes a plurality of recesses and each recess involve a deformation space for being deformed when the darts strike the dartboard. The soft and elastic inside of the recesses in the contact pad contact and activate the electronic parts so as to reduce the noise and protect the electronic parts from severe impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dart board assembly which comprises a frame having a plurality of ribs to define a plurality of spaces therebetween so as to receive dart blocks therein. A backing is connected to the frame and an electronic sensing member is connected between the backing and the frame. A plurality of conducting switches extend from the electronic sensing members.

[0006] A thin and elastic contact pad is connected to the rear surface of each block body. A plurality of protrusions protrude from a first surface of each of the contact pads and a recess is defined in a second surface of each of the protrusions. The recesses face the switches on the electronic sensing member. An inside of the recess contacts the conducting switch corresponding thereto when the contact pads are moved toward the electronic sensing member.

[0007] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the dart board assembly of the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the elastic contact pad of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 3 show a dart strikes on the dart board assembly of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 4 shows the recess of the contact pad and the electronic sensing member of the dart board assembly of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 5 shows that the contact pad is deformed and contacts the electronic sensing member of the dart board assembly of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 6 shows a plurality of contact pad are made to be a one-piece member;

[0014]FIG. 7 shows the contact pad is cooperated with a multiple-layer circuit board, and

[0015]FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the contact pad of the dart board assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the dart board assembly of the present invention comprises a frame 30 having a plurality of annular ribs 301 and radiating ribs 302 so as to define a plurality of spaces between these ribs 301, 302. Each of the annular ribs 301 and the radiating ribs 302 has two sides each formed with a stepped face 303. A space has a block body 31 movably received therein.

[0017] A plurality of support posts 304 extend from the frame 30 at the intersections of the annular ribs 301 and the radiating ribs 302, and each include a locking portion 305 which is a screw bore in a distal end of the support posts 304 such that a backing is fixedly connected to the frame 30 by extending screws 40 through the holes 33 in the backing 35 and engaged with the screw bores.

[0018] An electronic sensing member 34 is connected between the backing 35 and the frame 30 and a plurality of conducting switches 341 extend from the electronic sensing members 34.

[0019] Each of the block bodies 31 includes a casing 37 which has a front open side 371 and a close side, and a block 32 is received in each of the casing 37 from the open side 371 of the casing 37.

[0020] A thin and elastic contact pad 20 has its first surface connected to the electronic sensing member 34 and a plurality of protrusions 26 protrude from a second surface of the contact pad 20. Each of the protrusions 26 defines a recess 23 in the first surface of the elastic contact pad 20 and the recesses 23 face the switches 341 on the electronic sensing member 34. A gap is defined between the switch 341 and an inside of the recess 22. The protrusions 26 contact the bosses 372.

[0021] The shape of the contact pad 20 is made to match with the shape of the close side of each of the casings 37 and a cruciform hole 22 is defined through the contact pad 20 so as to allow the support posts 304 to extend through. A flexible convex portion 21 integrally extends from the inside of each of the recesses 23 and a conductive member 25 is connected to a surface of each of the convex portions 21.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, when a dart 17 strikes one of the blocks 32, the casing 37 is moved toward the electronic sensing member 34 and the bosses 372 push and deform the protrusions 26 to let the conductive member 25 to activate the switches 341. After the force exerted to the protrusions 26 by the dart 17 disappears, the bouncing force of the protrusion 26 moves the casing 37 back to its original position. The impact between the convex portion 21 and the switches 341 generates no noise because the material of the convex portion 12 is soft and flexible. It is to be noted that the conductive member 25 may also be omitted if the switches 341 are push-type switches. In this case, the inside of the recess 23 contacts the conducting switches 341 corresponding thereto when the contact pad 20 is moved toward the electronic sensing member 34.

[0023]FIG. 6 shows that the respective contact pads 20 can be made to be a large one-piece member according to the shapes of the casings 37. FIG. 7 shows that the dart board assembly of the present invention can be used with a multi-layer circuit board 36. FIG. 8 shows that the convex portion 12 may also be omitted if the deformation of the protrusions 26 reaches the switches 341.

[0024] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dart board assembly comprising: a frame having a plurality of ribs and a plurality of spaces defined between the ribs, each space having a block body movably received therein; a backing and the frame fixedly connected to the backing, an electronic sensing member connected between the backing and the frame, a plurality of conducting switches extending from the electronic sensing member, and a thin and elastic contact pad having a first surface thereof connected to electronic sensing member, a plurality of protrusions protruding from a second surface of the contact pad and each protrusion defining a recess in the second surface of the contact pad, the recesses facing the switches on the electronic sensing member and a gap defined between the switch and an inside of the recess, the inside of the recess contacting the conducting switch corresponding thereto when the contact pad is moved toward the electronic sensing member.
 2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a conductive member connected to the inside of each of the recesses.
 3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a convex portion extending from the inside of each of the recesses.
 4. The assembly as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a conductive member connected to a surface of each of the convex portions.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of bosses connected to the rear surface of each of the block bodies and the protrusions contacting the bosses. 